United3dArtists Archive

Finis · Post by **Finis** » 28 Aug 2012, 17:33

That's about it Rayman. Motivation comes from profit -- from rewards. Why try with no hope of making my life better? But you don't get anywhere without trying. I'll have more time and energy to try my other projects as the mowing/yard work season closes. Money or not, being my own boss is good.

Draise · Post by **Draise** » 28 Aug 2012, 19:13

Agreed, being your own boss is awesome. You get immediately rewarded for making your own ideas come true, and even if you can't sell it or it doesn't give you any cash back, you still win out on top. =)

Finis · Post by **Finis** » 02 Sep 2012, 03:01

That was not pleasant. I had one 2.5 or 3 hour job then done and no yard work till Monday. Other stuff but no yard work. My line trimmer and blower had lots of problems and it became a 6.5 hour job. So that was frustrating but also what can I do? It seems I can't make enough money to maintain my tools when I can't fix them. (Insert tax standard gripes here.) I'll gripe to the mechanics Monday about the trimmer they just fixed. It shouldn't leak gas and run slow. For their price it should run great, be decorated with rhinestones, and speak 3 languages.

On the good side the truck passenger door will open now. Yep, doors open better when they're unlocked. I also got small palm trees from a customer. I'll grow them in my yard and sell them or give them to customers in pots.

RAYMAN · Post by **RAYMAN** » 02 Sep 2012, 06:35

Finis wrote:That was not pleasant. I had one 2.5 or 3 hour job then done and no yard work till Monday. Other stuff but no yard work. My line trimmer and blower had lots of problems and it became a 6.5 hour job. So that was frustrating but also what can I do? It seems I can't make enough money to maintain my tools when I can't fix them. (Insert tax standard gripes here.) I'll gripe to the mechanics Monday about the trimmer they just fixed. It shouldn't leak gas and run slow. For their price it should run great, be decorated with rhinestones, and speak 3 languages.

On the good side the truck passenger door will open now. Yep, doors open better when they're unlocked. I also got small palm trees from a customer. I'll grow them in my yard and sell them or give them to customers in pots.

Look around the place for new constructed houses....
They also need the planning of a garden...... If you can get into business with them you can do that work without any of the tools(and without sweating- even in winter-you can use your qualification in 3d to show them the results -previs)
and also if it turns out great you can have them as a new customer once they move in....
Peter

pugman 1 · Post by **pugman 1** » 02 Sep 2012, 08:12

Here in germany the landscape gardening is booming trade .my buddy does it on the side
he hires the machines he needs to do the job. at the moment he has more work than he can handle
started this about 4 mounths ago now he is thinking of giving up his full time job and doing this for a living
he makes alot of money doing this .
Just somthing for you to think about . once your in your made .
wish you all the best.and hope you get modo

Finis · Post by **Finis** » 02 Sep 2012, 19:38

There is not much construction or demand for garden design right now but the main idea, find other ways to make money, is certainly good. There is some opportunity like that out there if I can find it and do it. I'm still unmotivated since I live in a country that hates and punishes success.

Thanks Pugman. Sounds like I'm in the wrong place for lawn care.

Time to see if I can fix the tools.

Edit: Trimer mostly fixed. Runs good now. Spark arrestor screen was clogged. I heated it up over a candle to burn off the goop then grabbed it while wire brushing ... still hot. Burned a nice screen displacement map into my finger. Gas leak: I think a new fuel line is slightly smaller than the old. Putting silicone on as cheap fix.

Finis · Post by **Finis** » 12 Feb 2013, 02:09

Business is picking up for this season. I got a new customer and some cleanups to do. Just did one. Tired. Should have exercised over winter.

I'll raise prices this year to cover the gross receipts tax (a disaster for my state's economy, and they wonder why we're one of the poorest states) and hopefully extra for me.

jamesmc · Post by **jamesmc** » 12 Feb 2013, 05:46

Finis wrote:Business is picking up for this season. I got a new customer and some cleanups to do. Just did one. Tired. Should have exercised over winter.

I'll raise prices this year to cover the gross receipts tax (a disaster for my state's economy, and they wonder why we're one of the poorest states) and hopefully extra for me.

Just put on your best "man-scaping" outfit and show 'em your stuff.

Finis · Post by **Finis** » 12 Feb 2013, 16:18

jamesmc wrote:Just put on your best "man-scaping" outfit and show 'em your stuff.

vi ... 268#p17268

Finis · Post by **Finis** » 02 Mar 2013, 23:41

Hurt my back and had to stop just as I started a job. Seems to be a muscle thing. Hope it is better tomorrow. It has been sore most mornings for a while.

jamesmc · Post by **jamesmc** » 03 Mar 2013, 00:28

Elevate your legs while asleep so the weight of your legs doesn't put further stress on your back.

Get better soon!

Finis · Post by **Finis** » 03 Mar 2013, 01:16

I'll try that James. My old mattress has a dip in it and I think that strains my back. Then bending over a bush today was the last straw. After some muscle ointment like Ben Gay it is not much better. Hopefully I can bring in some tools from the truck so they don't get stolen ... if I can figure out how to put my shoes on. New neighbors and some suspicious characters visiting them so I'll bring in the tools if I can or maybe put the truck farther into the yard. My customer put the tools in the truck for me and I was able to drive. Getting in this chair wasn't as good an idea as I thought. I can tell now that it is mostly a muscle that I stretched years ago.

RAYMAN · Post by **RAYMAN** » 03 Mar 2013, 04:15

have that once every year ! That is realy bad ! I had it as bad as not even being able to get out of the bed..
I had to pull myself out on all 4s.....
There is not very much advice I can give you other then keeo your back warm and keep in movement as good as possible..
what hurts is the muscle getting stiff and it gets worse if you dont keep in movement.. !
Peter

froo · Post by **froo** » 03 Mar 2013, 16:21

get well soon Finis!

spacekdet · Post by **spacekdet** » 03 Mar 2013, 20:34

Alternating hot and cold packs and Naproxen.

Finis · Post by **Finis** » 03 Mar 2013, 22:34

Thanks everyone. Better today. I can stand and walk without too much trouble. In fact I think I'll go to the store since I don't have much food in the house. I hope I can work soon. I don't want to get behind too far and there are new customer opportunities.

Finis · Post by **Finis** » 18 Mar 2013, 01:04

I hope no one steals anything from the back of the truck.

v3rd3 · Post by **v3rd3** » 18 Mar 2013, 07:55

Finis wrote: My old mattress has a dip in it ...

Is it a single or a double.... cuz a double dip can really get ya.

froo · Post by **froo** » 19 Mar 2013, 00:22

Heh for a minute there Finis I was gonna say, "Hey! That's Blue Agave! You can make Tequila with that stuff!!!"
Then I read it was some sort of Spanish Sword or something.

Finis · Post by **Finis** » 19 Mar 2013, 00:45

Of course my mattress has a dip (a dimwit) ... me!

Froo, you'll have to talk to Steinie about an agave supply. He has one growing in the north east!

Finis · Post by **Finis** » 10 Apr 2013, 02:11

Got a couple of new customers since last year. One needs weekly mowing! Another one maybe and some leads on more possible ones. The mowing season is late because it is cool. Winter was mild and some days were 80F a couple of weeks ago but now it is 60's due to wind and dust.

Finis · Post by **Finis** » 14 Apr 2013, 04:09

Taxes ... whine ... gripe. Not good but survivable. Get this. When you work at a regular job, work for someone else, your employer must withhold the socialist security and medicare (needs insulting nickname) taxes and send it to the govt. and must also pay about half of that for you. When you are self employed like me you pay both halves as self employment tax. So they give you a deduction for about half of the self employment tax to make it like a regular job. Wrong. The full amount of the SE tax is added to the tax you owe and a deduction of half that reduces your taxable income. That is not likely to reduce your total tax by one half of the SE tax. It gets worse. So you are poor like me. I don't owe any income tax due to low income but I do have to pay the self employment tax. Since I already don't owe any income tax the half-off deduction has no effect but I still owe the full SE tax! Fortunately, the earned income credit reduced it some. IMO socialist security and medicare should never have been done and employers should not have to pay part of their employees' tax.

Folks were discussing how we could get rid of SS and MC with the least harm. Since it is a ponzi scheme someone loses when it stops. I noted that some could give up our benefits, no longer be charged the taxes, and the amount we have paid in could be used for those who have paid in much to get benefits. Those who lose what they paid in gain freedom and not having to pay in anymore. "Who would do that?", they asked. My reply? If I could believe that it would be done, "I would cast this sacrifice upon the altar of liberty".

spacekdet · Post by **spacekdet** » 14 Apr 2013, 16:59

The problem is that our 'ruling class' isn't very interested in Liberty, or at least, not ours.

Finis · Post by **Finis** » 14 Apr 2013, 18:59

True Mr. Kdet. And that is why I can't believe that, or anything good, would be done. Since they aren't interested in liberty, nor are their supporters/voters, much greater sacrifices will be required.

I remembered that statement when I saw this.

Finis · Post by **Finis** » 25 Apr 2013, 23:44

Business is not looking good. The unusually cool to cold nights are preventing the grass from getting green. I've hardly mowed at all. Cleanups and weeds but I need the mowing to make some money.

v3rd3 · Post by **v3rd3** » 26 Apr 2013, 04:17

Just a thought but could you call your customers and offer to help them with planting or other landscaping? Fertilizing flower beds is good this time of year as well. Gives the earth time to absorb the fertilizer at root depth. I prefer to do that with a shovel and a fork to fold stuff in so I would not expect you need a lot of capital to do some of these things.

Good luck. I know it is tough being at the beck and call of mother nature.

trueBlue · Post by **trueBlue** » 26 Apr 2013, 13:11

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=Atrificial" Turf?
Green all year and no fertilizer needed.

spacekdet · Post by **spacekdet** » 26 Apr 2013, 17:18

I don't think that's going to help increase the amount of mowing Finis can charge for.

v3rd3 · Post by **v3rd3** » 26 Apr 2013, 17:58

If you're thirsty and a well is dry ... go to another well.

Finis · Post by **Finis** » 26 Apr 2013, 23:07

Good advice all around. I'm ready and waiting for the grass to grow but there are other things to do now. Customers are mostly asking for that but it will help to encourage others to get these services. Longer term I'm encouraging then to let me over seed with fescue so they have some more cold tolerant grass too (also longer mowing season with that ... buwahahahaha

) The bermuda will flourish during the hot times when the fescue sleeps.

Some people are giving up on grass and going to rocks (xeriscaping). I get some work weeding that. Artificial turf is popular at commercial buildings. Maybe some work cleaning debris from that.

Yeah, have to be flexible. Mowing is the most profitable thing for me but I'll have to take what I can get.

spacekdet · Post by **spacekdet** » 26 Apr 2013, 23:26

Speaking of dry wells, another service you could offer would be installing rain barrels.
A level, tin snips, hacksaw, and basic tools get the job done.
Might be handy for those 3 days a year that it rains, but darnit, they'll feel good about conservatin' and bein' green!

Finis · Post by **Finis** » 28 Apr 2013, 18:45

New business card design. Email address and P.O. Box on back.

Finis · Post by **Finis** » 10 May 2013, 19:54

Rain!

jamesmc · Post by **jamesmc** » 10 May 2013, 20:09

Finis wrote:Rain!

Time to sharpen the blades and oil the wheels.

Finis · Post by **Finis** » 26 May 2013, 02:01

Soooo tired. Rototilled a yard, raked it, and smoothed some of it Thursday. Did more on that yard today. Also checked a gymnastics school to give an estimate for cutting weeds on its large property. Trying to think to do that now. Why don't the "other people" who built my business for me do any of these things?

Thought I had a golf course customer but I didn't get that job.

I have to pay gross receipts taxes I've been neglecting or rather haven't been able to pay. I hope the late fee isn't too much. I'm tired of working just to pay tax. I live in poor town, I'm poor, and I say that most of the people living off of my tax and yours don't deserve one penny of my money or one drop of my sweat or yours. They just work the system to get welfare etc. and have no intention of ever getting a job though they are able to.

There's this old song, a movie or TV show theme I think, with the line, "He's got the big iron on his hip." (A colt 45.) I'm driving around with the big mower a friend gave me and ... you got it! ... "He's got the big iron on his truck."

RAYMAN · Post by **RAYMAN** » 26 May 2013, 16:20

No your not living in a poor town and you are not poor !
You are living in a rich world with modern comunitcation and internet .... something
the past generations would have loved to have.... you have talent your just not using it properly !
You also need to work on your networking !
With modern computer technology you can do a lot of things from home even if you are at the end of the world literally.....
Facebook started in a college.... Microsoft started in a small garage.........
Change you way of thinking ! Think positive !

Peter

spacekdet · Post by **spacekdet** » 26 May 2013, 16:40

I'm helping you rake that yard flat through the internet as hard as I can!

RAYMAN · Post by **RAYMAN** » 26 May 2013, 16:50

spacekdet wrote:I'm helping you rake that yard flat through the internet as hard as I can!

Ok ! thats how you do it ! I would help him build up a gardening site in the internet with his expert knowledge on
gardening ( side effect you get more clients in the region ) and get some sponsors to invest with advertisement as soon as its running....... with the money that comes out of that site
I´d get some people in more prosperous parts of the U.S. ie California to do some gardening for him for clients........
Finis is not going to be able to do the hard work until he is 65....
Thats just an example..... though there are tons of ways how to get some money through the net and also with graphical and 3d work... !
Peter

P.S. A good example of how such an internet site is done from which you can live off pretty well is kenrockwells Photography site....although
I highly regard the business model on his site i highly disregard some of the content there..though..
http://www.kenrockwell.com/"

Finis · Post by **Finis** » 26 May 2013, 19:37

spacekdet wrote:I'm helping you rake that yard flat through the internet as hard as I can!

Don't expect to be paid.

True I'm only poor by US standards. The point about poverty (by US standards) is that I'm there and I don't see the world of angelic downtrodden victims that non-poor who love taxes to help them see. I resent paying anything to support parasites.

I have little time or energy to think or do anything after doing yard work, no money to invest, and the govt. is the enemy of doing better so it seems like a lost fight. But you can't win if you don't fight. I'll find a way to use the resources I have to do better. More energy soon when it's mostly mowing. Blessed with the perpetual youth that runs in my family I probably will be able to do labor for many years but yes, that won't last forever.

The crowd sourced writers business model isn't working for Alamo Pulse. No one is going to write for free. No one is going to write or read it when they are working 2.5 jobs just to pay the bills. I thought that the local focus would make it interesting to locals but maybe I'll rethink that. Go state wide, national, or global. Phosphor Gallery was global and did attract a few artists. Broaden the base of potential writers and readers and advertisers.

An old fashioned model for Alamo Pulse like doing an advertisement blitz to start it up and having some paid freelance regular writers might work but that requires a large pool of investment capital to start with.

I've been thinking of putting more stuff on Zazzle. Sold a mug there. Even tired after work I still have ideas for things to put on T-shirts and such. Probably not make much but if I could make a little it could be bootstrap money for something else.

I would think about expanding the lawn care business to have employees but that is a nightmare of management, employee wrangling, costs, regulations, ... that's about to get 10,000 times worse. Whatever I do, doing it by myself is the way to go now days.

Rayman, you're probably right about how to do it though. Skills and knowledge combined with the internet. That is how many people are doing better without a lot of money to start.

Finis · Post by **Finis** » 06 Jun 2013, 02:09

Yeah! Hot all week and prediction starting Saturday (103 F/39.4 C) temps 100 F/37.8 C or more for a week! I like it hot. I have all the scheduled customers I can handle now plus some intermittent ones. Grass is recovering from the drought but most yards aren't doing well so I still don't get to mow as much. So far the city hasn't increased the watering restrictions.

Finis · Post by **Finis** » 19 Jun 2013, 02:48

The drought is not helping. Less grass means less mowing means last month I made $300 less than that month last year. I'm surprised there aren't extra restrictive watering rules given the drought and that a forest fire made a mountain lake where a lot of our water comes from unusable for a while (burned stuff in it). There's been some rain and that greened things up.

My main mower, "the big iron", won't start. I suspect the fuel pump. There's a tool rental place that also fixes mowers etc. so I'll try them. They would have plenty of experience and I hear they are cheaper than the other place.

I have to find ways to make money in the winter.

RAYMAN · Post by **RAYMAN** » 10 Jul 2013, 01:44

Finis wrote:
I have to find ways to make money in the winter.

Yup you just have to start....!

What limits you now is not lack of devotion its simply lack of force......your body doesnt do more...
when you come home you are exhausted... and dont see a way to change that.... your in a vicious circle....
Since I´ve done lawn care before I know how it feels after 5 hours in the heat.....the good thing is that
while I was mowing I had enough time to have a few thoughts about my life....
I can only give you one piece of advice.... whatever you do dont charge to little money for it... because thats a second viciuos circle....
you do more and more for less and less and that makes you lose more power eventually and you are in the same boat again....

Yes you have less customers but in the end what you earn isnt much less then if you charge less... you just have more time and
more power left......
Peter

bitkar · Post by **bitkar** » 20 Jul 2013, 19:27

Finis! Ive got something for you to speed up your work ;)

http://www.autoblog.com/2013/07/17/hond ... -mph-w-vi/"

buy this be the fastest mowing company ;)

watch the video :)

Finis · Post by **Finis** » 21 Jul 2013, 04:25

That's right Rayman. I'm doing things like bookkeeping and tool maintenance in more efficient ways so I have more free time. That is helping to have energy to do other things. I'll make some more T-shirts and stuff on Zazzle soon. A guy who wrote for Alamo Pulse has some ideas to help get that business going and I'll have energy to talk with the local writer's group.

Yeah Bitkar! Imagine if I had that and a whole block of lawns with no fences! Ten lawns in 15 minutes.

Monsoon season is here. Plenty of things growing now but also rained out of work on some days.

Finis · Post by **Finis** » 23 Jul 2013, 01:08

A customer gave me a mower just like the one I use most (Carftsman 6.75 HP 22") and a line trimmer. My truck was half full of grass and branches so I put the mowers in with the tailgate down and tied them in with two ropes to be sure. Well, a few blocks later they're on the street. Someone needs to learn to tie knots. Was moving slowly and other than a few bends they were fine! No practical damage. The "new" one runs great.

So I was behind in work due to rain and hired a helper to get caught up. Two trimmers, two mowers, two yards, two guys working shouldn't take long. I fueled up the "new" line trimmer and it started and ran well. I turn it over for easier access to put in new line and snap! Couldn't be something cosmetic, no, the trigger caught in something in the truck and broke off. I'll epoxy it or order one. I have yet another another small trimmer so we still got it done. Helper was out of juice then. Kids, too much gaming too little stamina.

My truck's brake lights stay on all the time for the last few days. It is in the shop now.

Steinie · Post by **Steinie** » 23 Jul 2013, 13:15

This might help you next time....

Animated Knots:

http://www.animatedknots.com/indexbasic ... dknots.com"

bitkar · Post by **bitkar** » 24 Jul 2013, 19:48

i have a feeling that you spend most of your work repairing your stuff (truck, movers etc.)... is it just my feeling?

Finis · Post by **Finis** » 02 Aug 2013, 03:17

Thanks Steinie. Bitkar, much of my stuff is old or not built to withstand commercial use so I have a lot of time and expense in repairs and maintenance. Getting better at prevention and efficiency in that. Some maintenance though is from me not being careful.

Did a big clean up job last weekend (means no days off), big cleanup today too. Rain is keeping me too busy. Did six yards yesterday and still behind a couple. Battle damage: fell in a 5' hole but only scraped my elbow, got dirt in my eye and couldn't sleep last night, saw two scary looking vinegaroons, lost some games of Angry Ants, black spot was a bruise not a bite, new boots rub some spots. Which reminds me of the title of a book about the lawn care business: "Dirty, Ugly, and Mean".

RAYMAN · Post by **RAYMAN** » 02 Aug 2013, 06:35

Finis wrote: "Dirty, Ugly, and Mean".

"Dirty, Ugly, and Mean".....agent orange does the trick.....!

Finis · Post by **Finis** » 11 Aug 2013, 03:58

RAYMAN wrote:agent orange does the trick.....!

I like 2,4-D. One of the components of agent orange. It kills tough weeds.

I finished a major work-a-thon today. No days off in a long time. Just a little paperwork tomorrow and the rest of the day off.

A bill I sent to new customer (did yard twice so far) was returned by the post office. There are three unintelligible letters hand written on it and a printed P.O. label saying "not found", "return to sender" and such. Does that mead the person is not found or the address? Lost her phone number. I went there this afternoon and her motorcycle was there so she hasn't moved. Try again soon and ask the neighbors if she's not there. I think she works at the German school* so she might be back in Germany during the Summer break (if they take one) but if so why isn't the letter just waiting in her mail box?

*Their Air Force trains here. There is a school here for their younger kids. It is staffed by Germans and taught with their methods.

Steinie · Post by **Steinie** » 11 Aug 2013, 12:53

Stick a bill on her door with a return envelope inside.

Bty
Kindergarten was invented by the Germans as I understand...
At least that is what the Internet says...so it must be true!...

jamesmc · Post by **jamesmc** » 11 Aug 2013, 17:29

Steinie wrote:Stick a bill on her door with a return envelope inside.

Bty
Kindergarten was invented by the Germans as I understand...
At least that is what the Internet says...so it must be true!...

May explain why planting a stork egg didn't turn into a child.

Maybe I should read the handbook again?

Finis · Post by **Finis** » 18 Aug 2013, 02:45

Haven't had time to go bill collecting. That place is in a nearby village. Have to do that soon.

I am trimmer-less. The big Troybilt trimmer (weed eater) is being repaired and now my Stihl trimmer doesn't turn the cutter head. I did a lot of heavy work with it today. "Can" does not equal "should". I think I exceeded its limits. I found a cheaper mechanic but that one has to go to the dealer and repair will probably be $50 or $60 or more. Have to epoxy the trigger on the small one.

A customer said her son needs work and can do this stuff. Would have had work for him today but it was all trimmer work.

Finis · Post by **Finis** » 20 Aug 2013, 02:56

I found the German customer at home. The address was correct so it was the post office's problem.

Aug 20: Well. Stihl weed eater waits for parts for a week and will cost more than expected to fix. The cheaper mechanic couldn't fix the big one. It needs the fuel/air mixture set correctly. I tried to do it by ear but I can't. Can't really afford to take it to the expensive mechanic or get another big one so I don't know what to do. I put JB weld on the trigger of the small one. See tomorrow if that holds. Maybe I'll rent one until I get one of mine going. I haven't had a day off in ... I don't even remember. This is discouraging.

RAYMAN · Post by **RAYMAN** » 25 Aug 2013, 09:48

have you tried a fuel tank station.... there are some buffs who can repair cars pretty well.... maybe he can sort your problem with
the fuel air combination.... just a thought !
Peter

spacekdet · Post by **spacekdet** » 25 Aug 2013, 14:54

I'm assuming you've searched the web/Stihl site for maintenance manuals/ PDFs?
You're a small business owner, you don't get days off.
Don't forget the barter system....busy mechanics don't have time to cut grass.

Have faith, the "Lightbringer" is 'pivoting' to jobs just as soon as he's done listening in on a phone call.

Finis · Post by **Finis** » 25 Aug 2013, 15:54

spacekdet wrote:You're a small business owner, you don't get days off. Don't forget the barter system....busy mechanics don't have time to cut grass.

Oh yeah? I get most of today off! I'll get plenty of days off in the winter so I probably should be happy to get the work now. Still need a break now and then. The tire store/car mechanic manager down the street gets me used tires for doing his yard.

Rayman, I heard of another small engine mechanic I'll try.

Took the big one to the expensive mechanics. Fuel air mix, yeah, but the cylinder is scored so that one can't be fixed for less than a new one. No big weed eater now.

Edit: Scored cylinder not piston rings.

Finis · Post by **Finis** » 11 Sep 2013, 04:30

Raining. It has been warm and with the rain the mowing season might last a little longer. That won't catch up in money for the cool Spring and delayed start of the season but it helps.

The front wheels of my main mower are worn. I don't use the self-propelled feature, removed the drive parts some time ago so factory replacements aren't needed. I got generic ones. It will take some backyard engineering though since the drive axle remains and the height adjusting plates connect to it. Part of that is in the way for the new wheels. I'll replace the shaft with bolts.

I paid taxes on some land I own in Texas today. Inherited. Paid online since I'm late. The online system needed an address but it is rural doesn't have an address. It is described by reference to survey records. So I gave it the zip code of the nearest town with a post office and put the record description in the address boxes.

Finis · Post by **Finis** » 22 Sep 2013, 04:31

I might get new tires for the truck. I found some that cost little but are good. Figuring if I can afford it.

spacekdet · Post by **spacekdet** » 22 Sep 2013, 15:59

Finis wrote: I paid taxes on some land I own in Texas today. Inherited.

That can't be Texas. There are trees there.
You mean to tell me it's not all sand and cow skulls and buzzards overhead? Those movies lied!

Please tell me you've named the body of water "Lake Arrowhead".

Finis · Post by **Finis** » 23 Sep 2013, 03:04

@Spacekdet The eastern part is like Arkansas or Louisiana. Hot, wet, humid. Lake Arrowhead ha ha! The pond is fed by a spring and rain. An ancestor who owned it before my parents had a berm constructed to enlarge the pond and stocked it with fish and charged people to fish there. Either he or my parents gave a couple of acres for a church to be built.

"sand and cow skulls and buzzards overhead" reminds me to go hiking before it gets cold.

Finis · Post by **Finis** » 03 Oct 2013, 03:46

Tired from this work-a-thon. Extra jobs and catch up from days off due to that big rain. Last mowing sometime this month probably. Leaves fall in November usually. Depends on weather.

I've worked for German Air Force people here but the wives/ladies never seemed to be in the service ... or work at all. I wondered if women were allowed to be in their armed forces. The customer I thought might work at the German school wore a uniform with their camouflage and insignia so she is in their Air Force.

I installed the new wheels on the mower. Nice. The remaining self propulsion axle wasn't difficult to remove and it turns out the height mechanisms attach with screws. So that was easy and I only needed $0.50 spacers.

Finis · Post by **Finis** » 10 Oct 2013, 18:58

Inspired by Steinie's new career path vi ... 942#p40942. I should offer a new service for those who maintain their own yards. For a small fee I will come to your house and start your mower for you. Many amateurs need help with this and I could gain income from an untapped market.

Dragneye · Post by **Dragneye** » 12 Oct 2013, 00:34

Hey Finis, can you also show me the best way to mow? That would be great for free introductory offer ya know.
'Not everyone has the skill to paint this white fence. Only special people can do it, ya know'

bitkar · Post by **bitkar** » 15 Oct 2013, 14:32

as i read your blog, fixing things for clients would make you some cash ;) you fix things very often, seems like...

Or you can be advisor only and tell ppl how to do stuff and see if they do it well... There was a czech old movie where ppl are building their own house themselves but know nothing about building. So they hire some guy as an advisor. He only keeps sititng on chair, drinking beer and sometimes say something lik "more cement" and such :) thats all. They just provide him the beer and such :) Cool job.

http://youtu.be/-W5UNus6Lao"

(in cz, sorry)

Finis · Post by **Finis** » 27 Oct 2013, 21:16

Trouble. Looks like identity theft. There was a suspicious phone message on my answering machine. It said there was suspicious activity on my account and to call Fraud Prevention Services. He named my bank and gave a number to call. Web search, that number is not for my bank and is associated fraud. Wouldn't have called there anyway. Will contact bank directly.

I had trouble remembering the PIN for my debit card and thought, if the call was legitimate, it was about that. So I got on the online banking system to send a secure message about that. I checked my accounts online and my lawn care business account has a small authorization on it that I didn't make at some hotel in Missouri. Bank closed today so I sent a message via the (hopefully) secure online system and will go to bank tomorrow.

(An authorization precedes a charge on credit and debit cards. It is saying, "Hey bank, is this card good for this amount?")

spacekdet · Post by **spacekdet** » 28 Oct 2013, 00:46

Dude, that's not good. Does the bank have a 1-800 number? Might be better to get the ball rolling now rather than in the morning. Everyone's worst nightmare.

Finis · Post by **Finis** » 28 Oct 2013, 04:59

It is a big nationwide bank so I'm surprised they don't have a 24/7 fraud report line.

No more activity on the account. I transferred the money to my personal account with the online system. Maybe the thieves don't have access to that one.

The auth was approved which means they have my billing info. so it is not a vendor typo that happened to be my card number. So if they have the billing info. why the bogus phone message? I guess if I was dumb enough to call back they would try to get me to give the account number.

Find out tomorrow.

jamesmc · Post by **jamesmc** » 28 Oct 2013, 14:42

Finis wrote:Trouble. Looks like identity theft. There was a suspicious phone message on my answering machine. It said there was suspicious activity on my account and to call Fraud Prevention Services. He named my bank and gave a number to call. Web search, that number is not for my bank and is associated fraud. Wouldn't have called there anyway. Will contact bank directly.

I had trouble remembering the PIN for my debit card when I was sleepy and thought, if the call was legitimate, it was about that. So I got on the online banking system to send a secure message about that. I checked my accounts online and my lawn care business account has a small authorization on it that I didn't make at some hotel in Missouri. Bank closed today so I sent a message via the (hopefully) secure online system and will go to bank tomorrow.

(An authorization precedes a charge on credit and debit cards. It is saying, "Hey bank, is this card good for this amount?")

I've gotten calls like that and it has been from the credit protection service that my bank employs for their customers. Evidently, they monitor for fraud and what-not for many other banks. When in doubt contact the bank and ask them about it.

Sounds like someone is trying to tap your account though (hotel in Missouri). I mean really, who'd want to be caught in a hotel in Missouri with all those red necked hillbillies (spoken like a true Kansan, arch enemy of Missouri ruffians).

Finis · Post by **Finis** » 28 Oct 2013, 16:24

Went to the bank. The call was legit from a service like James said. There was another attempt too. They got no money and my old card is canceled and I'll get a new one. The auth was not approved (confusing header on online banking). So, that is fixed.

Although the call was legitimate calling without some way to verify they are for real just makes it look like a scam.

Finis · Post by **Finis** » 08 Nov 2013, 02:43

No more bank trouble.

Things are slower now. Getting some odds and ends but the regular mowing is over. A couple of months ago I shot out the side window of a truck with a weed eater rock. Shattered to safety glass cubes. His insurance covered it. If I could afford it I'd get insurance vs. damage to customer stuff.

spacekdet · Post by **spacekdet** » 08 Nov 2013, 18:41

I need leaves chopped.
Did it a couple days ago and you'd never even know it.
So. many. leaves.

Come by anytime and get started.

Finis · Post by **Finis** » 15 Nov 2013, 23:30

There will be a small travel fee Spacekdet.

I got new tires! Cheap ones but good enough. They are a business expense.

RAYMAN · Post by **RAYMAN** » 16 Nov 2013, 20:16

Finis if you would live near me I´d also have so much work for you.....

a lot of trees and bushes to cut..
Peter

Finis · Post by **Finis** » 17 Nov 2013, 02:14

There will be a large travel fee Rayman.

RAYMAN · Post by **RAYMAN** » 21 Nov 2013, 21:21

Finis wrote:There will be a large travel fee Rayman.

I rather send you my garden via FEDEX !

But nevertheless I´d love to meet you in person one day !

Peter

Finis · Post by **Finis** » 07 Dec 2013, 16:02

Blew a water hose in the truck. Too cold for much work anyway. No mechanics until Monday.

Finis · Post by **Finis** » 09 Dec 2013, 03:28

I've had no ambition and no self discipline. I haven't been being responsible and getting things done. Not so much to do now but still. It might be the crazy work-a-thon this season with little time for creativity or relaxing. No hiking, little 3D'ing (should be a word), little on other creative projects, just eat, sleep, work. Too much of the same thing. Who knows. Better now. Not exactly a whirlwind of ambition, kick ass, and good attitude but getting stuff done.

Exercise really helps attitude. I've been sitting at the computer too much and got wimpy without lots of physical work.

Finis · Post by **Finis** » 27 Dec 2013, 03:12

taxes, stupid taxes ... taxes, stupid, (wanders off grumbling about taxes)

Edit 12/28/13 Maybe America really has reached the point where there is no reason to work. These taxes are ridiculous.

Finis · Post by **Finis** » 17 Jan 2014, 18:09

So it is time to pay for city business licenses again. What goods or services do I receive for my money? Mafia. They don't hurt me if I pay the protection money. I already pay taxes/bills for streets, sewers, police, etc.

The code enforcement officer came by and I have to cut my own weeds, hide my unregistered car, and remove old lumber and stuff from my yard. I wish the government would leave me alone. They've almost, or maybe have, taxed and regulated me out of business and now they are stealing my time as well. They certainly taxed and regulated any jobs I might have created out of existence ... and that's nothing to what's coming.

Finis' Lawn Care Business

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